Washing and drying machine



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(W3. ns y Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE George P. Anstiss, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to G. S. Blakeslee & Co., Cicero, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 19, 1928. Serial No. 262,791

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to washing and drying machines, such as are employed for cleaning and drying small articles of manufacture. The machine has been devised primarily for cleaning and drying safety razor blades, certain specific features of the invention having particular application to` this field of work, but it will be understood that the more general features of the invention have application to machines for cleaning and drying any class of light castings, stampings, or other articles. The present operation of washing and drying the razor blades is for the purpose of preparing the same for the final operation of sharpening the blades.

One of the objects of the` invention is to provide improved washing apparatus which will perform a more eflcient washing operation on the articles. Such washing operation involves passing the articles through a rotating perforated cylinder and throwing the wash water upon the articles through the perforations inthe cylinder. The water-throwing means is so arranged as to project the water over the top and sides of the cylinder, whereby the wash water enters the cylinder from all sides and thus impinges on all sides of the articles. The machine also embodies rinsing apparatus, which also operates upon this same principle of throwing the water upon the articles through the perforations in the cylinder in which said articles are being conveyed.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for drying the articles. Said drying means comprises a rotating cylindrical screen through which the articles are passed after the washing and rinsing operations, and which screen is subjected to heat'throughout substantially its entire length. The drying operationis assisted by having sawdust or some like form of comminuted drying material pass with the articles through the drying screen.

A further object of the invention' is to provide improved apparatus for maintaining the sawdust in continuous circulation through the machine so that the same volume of sawdust is used over and over again in the drying operation. The sawdust is screened out from the articles in passing through the drying screen, and is thence returned to the inlet end of the drying screen where such sawdust is again mixed with blades coming directly from the washing and rinsing operations. The sawdust in passing through the drying screen is subjected to the heat effective o'n this screen and is thus dried preparatory to `being returned to the inlet end of said screen.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of feeding means in the washing cylinder and in the drying screen for causing the articles to travel lengthwise thereof. Razor blades, owing to their light weight and to their smooth surfaceshave a tendency to stick together, particularly when the surfaces of the blades are wet or have oil or grease adhering thereto. The invention embodies as one of its features the provision of improved feeding means which will have the characteristic of separating razor blades which have thus become stuck together. The perforations in the washing cylinder and in the drying screen also cooperate with this feeding means in the function of separating the blades.

Machines of the present type require a relatively long washing cylinder and a relatively long drying screen, the length of the latter assuring complete drying of the blades, which is quite important. It is a further object of the invention to so combine and relate the washing cylinder, drying screen and other associated apparatus that the floor space occupied by the machine will be reduced to a minimum. ,l

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings illustrating such embodiment:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machine, as viewed from the side at the inlet and discharge end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine.

Fig. 3'is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the axes of the two cylinders, the intermediate portions of the machine being broken away to shorten the gure.

Fig. 4 is an end view, partly in section, illustrating that end of the machine at which the articles are transferred from the washing cylinder to the drying screen.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the vline 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 and 'l are plan and perspective views l respectively illustrating the arrangement of the pin type of feeding means for the washing cylinder and drying screen, and

Figs. 8 and 9 are similarviews illustrating a rib type of feeding means which may be ern-.- ployed in lieu of the pins illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

The razor blades are illustrated as entering the machine through a chute 13 leading down from the upper floor level vor any suitable 4overhead point, it being understood, however, that a loading skip or any other suitable feeding means may be employed in lieu of the chute 13. As previously remarked, the blades are fed to the present machine after the complete formation of the blades,

but prior to the final sharpening thereof. The chute 13 discharges into the inlet end of a long, horizontally extending cylinder 14 in which the washing and rinsing operations are performed. The blades arev conveyed longitudinally thrcugh said cylinder to the opposite or discharge end thereof where they are discharged into a suitable chute leading to a second horizontally extending cylinder 15 in which the drying operation is performed. The washing cylinder 14 is disposed directly above the drying cylinder 15, thereby reducing the length of the entire machine approximately to the length of one of the cylinders.

Both cylinders are supported in a suitable frame, designated 16 in its entirety, which frame comprises four horizontally disposed angle bars 17-17 and 18-18 (Fig. 5) extending substantially from end to end of the machine. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that adjacent to the inlet and discharge end of the machine the aforesaid angle bars are secured to the inner sides of two upwardly extending channel bars 19"--l9', and adjacent to the opposite end of the machine said angle bars are secured to a similar pair of channel bars 21-21. The chambers or compartments in which the water throwing wheels of the washing and rinsing mechanisms are housed project forwardly from the plane of the cylinders 14-15, and the front portions of these compartments are supported by pairs of vertically extending channels 22 and 23, as illustrated in Fig. 2. A horizontally extending angle bar 24 is secured to the inner sides of all four angle bars `22---23, and forms a shoulder on which the outer portions of the aforesaid compartments rest..

The inlet end of the washing cylinder 14 is rotatably mounted on two laterally spaced rollers 25 (Fig. 1) which are mounted in suitable bearing brackets secured to an angle bar 26 extending transversely of and secured to the vertical frame channels 19-l9. As shown in Fig. 3, this end of the washing cylinder is provided with a tread ring 27 which bears upon the rollers 25, such tread ring having a thrusting flange 28 adapted to bear against the tapered sides of the rollers 25 for preventing the cylinder from shifting in a direction towards the other end. The tread ring 27 and flange 28 are preferably formed integral with a sleeve 29 which is secured to the end of the cylinder, such sleeve serving to reinforce this portion of the cylinder. An upper roller 31 is adapted to engage the tread ring 27 above the cylinder for preventing the latter from becoming displaced from the lower rollers 25. This upper roller is also mounted in a suitable bearing bracket which is bolted to the under side of an upper platform 32, which platform is supported on short horizontally extending channel bars 33, as best shown in Fig. 1. The other end of the Washing cylinder 14 is similarly supported on a pair of laterally spaced rollers 25', the mounting brackets of which are secured to the upper ange of an angle bar 34 extending transversely between the two vertical frame bars 21-21. This end of the cylinder is provided with a similar arrangement of tread ring 27 and flange 28 on a sleeve 29' secured to and reinforcing the end of the cylinder. The ange 28 faces oppositely to the flange 28 for preventing shifting movement of the cylinder in the other direction: The opposite ends of the lower cylinder l5 are supported by a pair of lower rollers 35 and an upper roller 36 at the discharge end of the cylinder, and by a similar arrangement of rollers 35 and 36' at the inlet end of the cylinder. The opposite ends of said cylinder are also provided with sleeves 37-37', from which project tread rings and retaining fianges for cooperation with the rollers in the same relation as described above. The mounting brackets for the two lower rollerS at the discharge end of the cylinder l5 are supported upon an angle bar 38 which extends transversely of and is bolted to the ends of the two lower frame bars 18-18. The upper roller 36 at this end of the cylinder has its mounting bracket secured to an angle bar 39 which is secured to the projecting ends of the upper frame bars 17-17.

The mounting brackets for the two lower rollers at the opposite end of the cylinder are supported on an angle bar 41 which is secured to the two vertical frame bars 21-21', and the mounting bracket for the upper roller 36 is secured to an angle bar 42 which is likewise bolted to the vertical frame bars 21-21.

Both cylinders are driven from an electric motor 44 which is mounted on the upper platform 32 (Fig. 2), the armature shaft of said motor being coupled to suitable speed reducing gear mechanism enclosed in a housing 45 also mounted on the platform 32. The slow speed shaft `projecting from this gear mechanism carries a sprocket pinion 46 over which passes a chain 47. The chain loops down around the end of the sleeve 29 on the washing cylinder, where it engages sprocket teeth 48 projecting circumferentially from said sleeve. 'I'he sleeve 29' at the opposite end of the cylinder is similarly formed with radially extending sprocket teeth 48 over which passesa chain 49. The latter passes around the under side of the drying cylinder 15, where it engages sprocket teeth 51 projecting from the sleeve Thus the drive transmitted to the upper cylinder 14 is in turn transmitted down to the lower cylinder 15 through the chain 49.

Both cylinders are perforated substantially from end to end by longitudinally extending rows of holes 53 of sufliciently small size to prevent lodging of the blades therein, the holes in one row being offset or staggered with reference to the holes in the adjacent rows to obtain relatively close spacing between all of the holes. The feeding means illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 comprises a series of pins which are anchored in the holes and which extend radially inward in each cylinder. As will be seen from Fig. 7, the anchorfected by forming the pins with reduced ends which are inserted in the holes and are then upset therein from the outer side of the cylinder, as indicated at 54. The pins are arranged to follow a helical line extending from end to end of each cylinder, the direction of lead of this helical line being such that the rotation of the cylinder will cause the blades to be moved progressively from the inlet end of the cylinder to the discharge end thereof. Such helical line is represented by the two dotted lines designated a: in Fig. 6, and it will be noted that the pins are spaced comparatively Aclose together along said helical line so that as the blades are carried up on the rising side of the cylinder and drop back from pin to pin they will be moved toward the end of the cylinder.

I have found that the blades can be separated more efciently by employing pins of different lengths, with certain of the pins interposed between successive convolutions of the helical feeding line x. Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that two lengths of pins are employed, the shorter pins being designated 54a andthe longer pins 54h. The shorter pins are disposed entirely in the helical feeding line :11. The longer pins are disposed in rows extending longitudinally of the cylinder with the rows preferably spaced a considerable distance apart, the four rows illustrated in Fig. 5

progressively Ving of the pins in these holes is preferably efrepresenting atypical arrangement. One of such rows Ais indicated by the dotted line y in Fig. 6. As shown in this latter figure, one or more of these long pins is disposed between successive convolutions of the helical feeding line m. The foregoing arrangement of pins is preferably employed in both cylinders 14 and 15. i

While this arrangement of pins constitutes'the preferred form of feeding means, I may employ other forms offeeding means such as is represented by the rib or flange 57 in Figs. 8 and 9. Such rib or flange extends helically from end to end of 'each cylinder, 'and functions as a feeding screw or worm for conveying the blades longitudinally of the cylinder.

The washing cylinder 14 is almost entirely enclosed in a sheet metal housing 58, only the extremities of the cylinder extending from the housing. As shown in Fig. 3, the lower portion of the housing is constructed to form two separate water tanks, the wash water tank being designated 59 and the rinse water tank' being designated 61, the two tanks being separated by an intermediate wall 62. The bottom of these tanks is supported on the inwardly extending flanges of the two horizontaLframe bars 17-17. A water level is maintained in each tank up to a' point in close proximity to the under side of the washing cylinder. Intermediate the ends of the washing compartment, a housing extension 63 4projects forwardly from the front wall of the long housing 58, the lower front edge of this housing extension resting on the horizontal flange of the outer frame bar 24. Intermediate the ends of the rinsing compartment, asimilar housing extension '64 extends forwardly from the front wall of the long housing 58, ther front edge of this latter extension 64 being also supported on the frame bar 24. Fig. 5 illustrates a transverse section through the housing extension 64, froml which it will be seen that the lower portion of such housing extension constitutes a forward continuation of the rinse water tank 61. The first mentioned extension 63 likewise constitutes a forward continuation of the wash water tank 59. Mounted in each ofy these housing extensions is a water throwing wheel which picks up water from its tank and throws the same against the side and over the top of the washing cylinder.

.The water throwing wheel 65 in the housing extension 64 is illustrated in Fig. 5, from which it will be seen that it comprises two end discs 66, between which extend a plurality of curved vanes or blades 67, the ends of which are suitably secured to the discs. The water throwing wheel in the housing extension 63 is substantially a duplicate of .the wheel 65. Each wheel has a central hub 68 by which the wheel is secured to a driving shaft 69, this shaft extending through the side walls of both housing extensions 63 and 64 and serving to drive both wheels. The wheels are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, and it will be noted that the front wall of the housing extension is curved upwardly and rearwardly, as indicated at 71, so that that portion of the water projected upwardly by the wheel will be deflected rearwardly across the top of the washing cylinder 14, The water passing entirely over the cylinder will strike the back wall of the housing 58 and will be deected down into the perforations on the rear side of the washing cylinder. Thus in the operation of the water throwing wheels, water will be projected against both sides of the washing cylinder and over the top of the same. The water entering the cylinder in this manner will assist the pins in separating any blades which may tend to stick together, and it will also be noted that such projection of the water into the cylinder will subject all sides of the blades to the impingement of the water. The water drains back into the tank through the perforations in the lower portion of the cylinder, so that the water is also brought into contact with the blades resting in the bottom of the cylinder. l

Referring to Fig. 2, the shaft 69 passes out of each housing extension through water tight bearing boxes 72 secured to the side walls of the housing extensions. Such shaft is drivenfrom an electric motor 73 mounted on a platform 74 above the housing extension 64. A belt 75 extends down from'a pulley on the motor shaft and passes around a relatively large pulley 76 on a countershaft 77 which is suitably journaled in a bearing frame 78 secured to one side of the housing extension 64. A pinion 79 mounted on the countershaft meshes with a spur gear 81 on the drive shaft 69, whereby the Water throwing wheels are driven at the proper speed for efficient projection of the water against the washing cylinder. The end portions of the shaft 69 are journaled in suitable bearing brackets 82 and 83 mounted on the machine, and the end portions of said shaft carry sprocket wheels for transrmitting drives to the different portions of the sawdust conveying mechanism, which I shall presently describe.

The razor blades after being washed and rinsed in the washing cylinder 14 are discharged from the end thereof into a chute 84 which extends downwardly from the end of the cylinder and directs the cleansed blades into the receiving end of the drying screen or cylinder l5. In falling down through the chute 84 and dropping into the drying cylinder, the blades are mixed with a quantity of sawdust or like comminuted drying material which is introduced into the chute 84 through an upper chute or hopper 85 which discharges down into the chute 84, as shown in Fig. 3. The sawdust tends to adhere to the moist sides of the blades and to absorb the moisture therefrom as the mass of sawdust and blades is conveyed toward the discharge end of the drying screen 15'. The drying operation is expedited by subjecting the screen to heat from a group vof steam pipes disposed below the screen. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, this heating means preferably comprises a plurality of steam pipes 86 arranged in vertical tiers `or sections, with the pipes of each tier connected at their opposite ends to Vertical risers 87. The risers at opposite ends of the tiers are connected through pipes 88 with headers 89,

,against lateral diffusion.

As the blades become dried in their travel through the drying screen 15, the sawdust becomes loosened therefrom andsifts downwardly through the perforations in the screen, falling upon an inclined deilecting surface or chute 91 which' extends lengthwise below the drying screen throughlil) ` hopper or chute 85.

out the entire perforated length thereof. It will be noted that this deecting surface is disposed directly above the heating pipes 86, and hence as the sawdust falls thereon it is subjected directly to the heat of this surface for rapidly drying the sawdust. The rear edge of the plate 91 is secured to a horizontal angle bar 92 disposed in rear of the drying cylinder 15, and from this point the plate 91 slopes downwardly and forwardly at a relatively sharp angle for discharging the sawdust into a trough 93 which extends along the front of the machine substantially throughout its entire length. Extending along the bottom of the trough 93 is a feeding augur 94 which is mounted on or forms a part of the longitudinal drive shaft 95. The left hand end of said shaft, as viewed in Fig. 2, extends through a bearing carried by the end wall of the trough 93, and has mounted thereon a sprocket wheel 96 over which a drive chain 97 passes. The chain passes upwardly over a sprocket pinion 98 on the water wheel drive shaft 69, whereby the feeding augur 94 derives its power from the electric motor 73. The augur conveys the sawdust towards the right hand end of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 2, where the sawdust is dumped into a boot 99 (Fig. 4) which forms the lower part of a bucket elevator 101. The housing of this elevator is preferably bolted to the forwardly extending ends of the transverse frame bars 34 and 41. The elevator is of the ordinary chain type comprising a sprocket chain 103 to which the conveying buckets 104 are secured at spaced points. The chain passes around a sprocket wheel 105 at the lower end of the elevator, such sprocket wheel being mounted on a shaft 106 which preferably has adjustable bearing supports in the side walls of the elevator housing, whereby the tension of the chain may be adjusted. The chain passes upwardly over a sprocket wheel 107 at the upper end of the elevator, which sprocket wheel is mounted on a shaft 108 having suitable bearing support in the side walls of the elevator housing. Referring to Fig. 2, one end of the shaft 108 extends laterally from the elevator housing for supporting a sprocket pinion 109 over which is trained adrive chain 111. The latter passes around a sprocket wheel 112 on the adjacent end of the shaft 69, whereby the elevator is also driven from the electric motor 73. Referring to Fig. 4, the upper end of the elevator housing is closed by a hood 113, and as the buckets pass up over the sprocket wheel 107, they project the sawdust through an opening in the rear wall of the elevator housing into a chute or trough 114 which directs the sawdust down into the large In order to replenish the supply of sawdust conveniently from time to time, a storage hopper 116 is suitably supported at the front of the machine and is arranged to discharge into a chute 117 leading down into the trough 93, the dumping of additional sawdust from 'the storage receptacle 116 being controlled by a suitable valve 118 in the bottom of the receptacle 116.

The path of the blades through the washing and drying cylinders, and the general operation of the machine, has been fully set forth in the preceding description, With reference ,to the sawdust, it will be seen that such passes repeatedly through an endless path or cycle in which the drying screen 15 is included, and that each time that the sawdust passes through this cycle, it is heated to remove all moisture therefrom. Attention is again directed to the fact that by disposing the washing cylinder directly over the drying cylinder, the over-all length and width of the machine is not much greater than the dimensions of one of the cylinders. Such arrangement permits of the use of long cylinders, which is an advantage, and also results in the heat from the steam pipes 86 aiding in maintaining the wash water and the rinsing water at an efficient temperature.

While I have illustrated and described what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that such is merely exemplary and that various modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. In a machine for cleaning razor blades, the combination of a rotating perforated cylinder, and means for feeding the razor blades through said cylinder and for separating the blades comprising a series of relatively short pins extending inwardly in said cylinder and arranged in a helical line to feed the blades from one end of the cylinder to the other, and a series of relatively long pins extending inwardly in said cylinder and arranged in substantially longitudinal rows therein.

2. In a cleansing machine, a cylinder having perforations in the continuous wall thereof, and pins extending radially into said cylinder, certain of said pins being disposed in planar, longitudinally spaced relation, and others of said ypins being disposed in helical longitudinal relation,v said first named pins being relatively longer than said second named pins.

3. In a cleansing machine, a frame, a rotatable, perforated cylinder mounted thereon, and a plurality of radially inwardly directed pins extending into said cylinder, said pins being of uniform cross section, certain of said pins being disposed in planar, spaced relation longitudinally of said cylinder, and others of said pins being disposed in helical relation longitudinally of said cylinder, said rst named pins being relatively longer than said second named pins, whereby separatory and,

translatory motion through said cylinder is imparted to articles disposed therein upon rotation of said cylinder.

4. In a mechanism of the class described, a rotatable cylinder having a plurality of symmetrically disposed perforations therein and means for imparting separatory and translatory motion to articles adapted to be received in said cylinder, through the cylinder, comprising a plurality of radially inwardly extending pins seated in certain of said perforations, certain of said pins being disposed in planar spaced relation longitudinally of the cylinder and others being disposed in helical relation longitudinally of the cylinder, said rst mentioned pins being relatively longer than said last mentioned pins.

5. In a mechanism of the class described, a frame, a rotatable, perforated cylinder mounted thereon, means for separating and imparting translatory motion through said cylinder to articles adapted to be received thereby, comprising a plurality of planar disposed radially inwardly projecting pins and helically disposed radially inwardly'projecting pins in said cylinder,

said first mentioned pins being relatively longer than said last mentioned pins and means external ofvthe'cylinder adapted to cause a fluid to operate upon said articles through the perforations in said cylinder.

' GEORGE P. ANSTISS. 

